WHILE Southern Florida braces for Hurricane Irma, light-heayweight Sullivan Barrera continues to train for what he hopes is an explosive end of year showdown with Badou Jack.
After stopping Paul Parker and beating Joe Smith Jnr on the bright lights of HBO, Barrera has his sights set firmly on the facing two-division titlist before the calendar turns over to 2018.
COME AND GET ME: Barrera is ready for another tilt at the division’s top names
“First off I want to say congratulations on beating Nathan Cleverly. I know you said you want to fight Adonis Stevenson but he has to face his mandatory next. I want your [secondary] WBA belt around my waist,” said Barrera after a recent training session.
CAREER BEST: Jack [left] was simply brilliant while taking apart Cleverly in August
“You know that your style and my style will make for an explosive fight. I’m sure the fans would want to see the fight. I would love to fight Kovalev too but me and you are both off big wins so let’s do this.”
With Stevenson likely facing his mandatory next and Andre Ward – who handily outscored Barrera last year – talking about moving up to cruiserweight or heavyweight, Barrera is the best option for Jack as well.
“I haven’t ever seen Badou back down from a challenge so why would he start with me? It is simple, he needs an opponent and so do I. The ball is in your court Badou. Do you accept my challenge?”
